Teen Fatally Shot In South End

December 30, 2001|By WILLIAM HATHAWAY; Courant Staff Writer

A 17-year-old boy was shot and killed in front of a Franklin Avenue office building early Saturday morning, surprising business owners and residents of Hartford's South End neighborhood who say the street has become relatively free of major crime in recent years.

Nihad Siljkovic of Hartford was killed by a single gunshot wound to the chest, police said.

Police did not provide the address of the victim. Police said late Saturday that they were following several leads but had no suspects.

According to police, Siljkovic was sitting in a car at about 1 a.m. outside the Greca Building at 427-429 Franklin Avenue when a man walking northward on Franklin shot the victim in the chest and then fled south on Franklin.

Siljkovic was pronounced dead at Hartford Hospital at 1:20 a.m.

The shooting was the 26th homicide in Hartford during 2001, police said.

The assailant wore a black hooded sweatshirt and dark jeans, according to witnesses.

Franklin Avenue is home to some of the city's best-known restaurants but is usually deserted at that hour of the morning, residents say.

The shooting came in front of the Franklin Avenue Merchants Association headquarters, which promotes businesses on the street that has seen an economic revival in recent years.

``I don't think there is any decent space open on the whole avenue,'' said Joseph Bordonaro, merchant coordinator for the association, which claims 200 members. ``The economy has been good here.''

Crime has decreased dramatically in recent years, said Carmelo Sardelli, owner of the Modern Pastry bakery across the street from the Greca building.

``It's been nice here for years. It's been beautiful,'' Sardelli said.

Tina Bonaquisto, owner of LaRosa Market, said a few unruly adolescents are about as serious a crime problem as local businesses have today.

``I hate to hear this,'' she said of the slaying.

Police urged anyone with information about Siljkovic or the shooting to call the Major Crimes Division 860-527-7300, Ext.5225.